Both Goodchild and Cherry have known since end of last year that they would be competing in this notoriously competitive solo race, but a third and final place was available to the remaining Artemis squad members – Bomby, Ollie Bond and Aaron Cooper. It was just a question of which one of them could prove they deserved the final place.

After this weekend’s Solo Basse Normandie it was confirmed that Henry Bomby would be given the final spot after his solid and improving performance over the last few months, including finishing fourth in the Solo Basse Normandie, just behind Nick Cherry.

“It was never a ‘given’ that the third available place for the Solitaire du Figaro would be allocated,” said Artemis Offshore Academy Performance Director, John Thorn. “The advisory board decided that the place would only go to a squad member who had convinced us they would benefit from the experience, as well as proving that they had harnessed the required skills to take on this arduous race. Henry has proved that and now it’s important that he competes to the best of his abilities and learns from the experience racing alongside some of the best solo sailors in the world.”

In the Solitaire, first-timers like Bomby and Cherry are also ranked in the ‘Rookie Division’ (bizuth) as well as overall.

The 43rd Solitaire du Figaro starts on 24 June from Paimpol in northern France.